Erik ten Hag&aposs side have plenty of issues to iron out after four Premier League games with their record standing at won two, lost two. Their issues were highlighted at Arsenal before the international break.
The balance of United&aposs midfield has been a major concern with Ten Hag hopeful that the arrival of Sofyan Amrabat can help to solve the issues. Defensively, there have been weaknesses too with injuries not helping them.
So what have the pundits made of United&aposs start? It&aposs pretty grim reading after a difficult opening to the season.
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So far, Neville&aposs early predictions have looked about right. He told FourFourTwo in July that United wouldn&apost build on their third-placed finish last year and the evidence so far has shown that looks likely.
“Under the owners the club [Manchester United] has had, I think theyll probably still finish in the top four, but I dont think theyll improve on it, he said.
“If they got new owners and had 250m or 300m to spend, theyve got a chance of going up to second. I do think theyve got a chance of taking that spot off Arsenal thats up for grabs but theyd have to spend well.”
United players have not impressed the former captain, especially after their defeat at Arsenal. He laid into the squad for their terrible away record against their rivals.
Keane told Sky Sports: “It [their away record] is a huge concern 100 per cent. When you look at the stats, that&aposs a bad reflection on the players that you have, because Manchester United clearly have a lot of talented players.
“But it suggests that they are just dependent on their talents and lack those personalities. Their record away from home has to improve, because of the standards of other teams around you. I don&apost like looking at that. If you want to be a top team and compete [for the title], they have to improve that drastically.”
Carragher has been focused on United&aposs issues in midfield. He believes they need to redress the balance, something Sofyan Amrabat may do.
“I think they have big problems in midfield,” Carragher told Sky Sports. “The set-up of their midfield is not right for me. I think there are a few things wrong.
“The manager&aposs set up, what he is asking them to do in terms of the profile of players, is not right. This guy [Casemiro] in midfield, as we saw last Monday night and as we saw constantly on Saturday night, is being left exposed in the middle of the pitch on his own and he cannot cope.
“James Maddison runs off the back of him, gets away from him and is right at Manchester United&aposs back-four.”
Like Keane, Shearer was not impressed with United&aposs display at Tottenham, nor their start to the season. Again, the midfield was honed in on as the source of their issues.
